Police knocked on Clinton John Rook's door looking for people believed to be hidden around his unit block. He was happy to help, but was soon busted with a haul of drugs and $25,000 in cash.Contributed

Drug dealer happy to help when police came knocking

WHEN police knocked on the door chasing down two people supposedly hiding around his unit block, Clinton John Rook seemed happy to help.

He let officers into his Mount Pleasant rental to take a look around on July 12 last year - even though he had a haul of drugs and cash stashed in his room.

Unluckily for Rook, police found about $25,000, 8.8 grams of the drug ice (6.2g pure), 438g of marijuana, 0.205g of cocaine, four tabs of LSD, a small amount of MDA/MDMA and packs of pseudoephedrine-type tablets.

A search of Rook's phone also found evidence he'd supplied a small amount of ice.

But that wasn't the first time the 34-year-old with a long history of drug crimes had an unlucky run in with police.

On March 16 last year he entered a room at a Mackay motor inn when police, who were looking for another person, noticed clouds of marijuana smoke billowing from the doorway.

Officers' attention turned to Rook and they noticed a sunglasses case which had been hidden under his shirt drop to the ground.

It contained 8.7g (6.5g pure) of ice and 19 LSD-like blotters.

Police also found 62g of marijuana, scales and a number of empty clipseal bags on the day which belonged to Rook..

The Mount Pleasant man's crimes were detailed by Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane during his sentencing on 27 charges in Mackay Supreme Court on Friday.

Dated between December 31, 2015 and July 12, 2016, the charges originate from the police searches mentioned, as well as several other run-ins with law enforcement.

Rook fronted the court after spending 381 days in jail after his arrest.

Rook also pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a thing in connection with drug crime (phone and cash), two counts of possessing tainted property (cash), three counts of breaching bail, and one count of possessing a knife in public, contravening police, obstructing police, driving without a licence and failing to stop a vehicle at a stop line.

Defence barrister Scott McLennan, instructed by Morton Lawyers, said he wouldn't contest the possession charges could be linked to a commercial purpose.

Mr McLennan described Rook as "drug addicted most of his life" after first trying ice at 13 and said he was using up to 2g each day when his crimes were committed.

He said Rook had showed him "substantial scarring" on his arms due to needle use.

Forced into abstinence in prison, Rook put on 50kg and had been applying for drug education courses to speed up rehabilitation, Mr McLennan said.

The barrister asked Justice Henry to take into account Rook's cooperation with police during the search on July 12 last year.

Mr McLennan added Rook had gone up to 18 months without offending in the past and was capable of living a productive, crime-free life.

Rook had worked as a chef for a time, installed rainwater tanks and worked for a company selling chemical spill kits and other products.

Justice James Henry criticised Rook for using drug addiction as an excuse for his repeat criminal behaviour and "inflicting the same misery you were suffering on others".

But he said Rook had used his time in prison productively and seemed committed to reform.

Rook was sentenced to a total of four years and nine months jail on all charges. He will be eligible for parole on February 11 next year, considering time served.